Interchangeable head, ratchet type socket wrench



L. 0. WILSON Nov. 3, 1942.

V INTERCHANGEABLE HEAD, RAT CHETTYPE SOCKET WRENCH Filed July 29, 194155752 0. W74 so/v INVENTOR BY W Arroz zvs v Patented Nov. 3, 1942INTERCHANGEABLE HEAD, RATCHET TYPE SOCKET WRENCH Lester O. Wilson, LosAngeles, Calif.

Application July 29, 1941, Serial No. 404,445

(01. s1-ss 4 Claims.

This invention pertains to a ratchet type wrench provided withinterchangeable heads, the wrench being thus adapted for use on nuts andbolts differing in polygonal cross section, size, etc. In its preferredform, the wrench of this invention is of the ratchet type so that thenut or bolt may be tightened or loosened by a repeated oscillating orrocking movement of the handle of the wrench. Moreover, the wrench maybe provided with a handle which is movably and angularly connected tothe wrench, thereby permitting the wrench to be used in those positionswhich do not accommodate a rigid or fixed handle.

Generally stated, the wrench of the present invention comprises a bodymember adapted to receive interchangeable heads, the heads havingsockets formed therein, the sockets differing in size and cross sectionso as to permit the wrench to be used on various types and sizes ofnuts. The body member of the wrench is provided with an annular ratchetlying in a plane transverse to the axis of the socket in theinterchangeable head. The interchangeable heads are also provided withannular ratchet rings adapted to engage the ratchets on the body member.Means are also provided in the body member for releasably retaining thehead against the fixed ratchet of the body member. The body member maythen be connected in any suitable manner to a handle, such connectionbeing preferably of the angularly adjustable ratchet type so as tofacilitate insertion and use of the wrench in narrow or angularlydisposed positions.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to disclose andprovide a simple, strong, relatively lightweight and positive type ofinterchangeable head wrench.

A further object of the invention is to disclose and provide aninterchangeable head, ratchet type socket wrench adapted for use with anangularly adjustable handle.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription of an exemplary form of the invention, reference being hadto the appended drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a wrench embodying the presentinvention, the wrench illustrated including an angularly adjustablehandle.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of an interchangeable head element andshows the bottom or ratchet surface of such head.

Fig. Ii is a vertical section through thewrench. As shown in thedrawing, the wrench includes a body member generally indicated at I0adapted to receive the interchangeable heads ll. These heads H snuglybut rotatably fit into a bore I2 formed in the body member, the end ofthe bore being partly closed by means of an inwardly extendingcircularlip l3 whichmay be integral with the body portion i0. Thev innertransverse surface of the lip I3 is provided with a plurality of ratchetteeth M. The lower end i 5 of the removable head I l is also providedwith an annular ring of ratchet teeth is adapted to I a of the head,such groove being generally indicated at l8, said groove having onevirtually transverse side I 9 adjacent the end P5 of the head H.

The body member it! may be connected to a handle 20 or it may beintegral with such handle. Preferably, however, the handle 20 isattached to the body member It! by means of a universal or angularlyadjustable joint or connection such as is generally indicated at 2!.Details of this joint or connection need not be shown since suchconnections or joints are well known.

In the body member 10 adjacent the handle 20 or the connection 2| springactuated means are provided for releasably holding the head 'll withinthe bore l2 of the body member [0. As more specifically shown in Fig. 3the body portion [0 may be provided with an angularly disposed bore 22directed inwardly and downwardly toward the inner surface of the lip l3,said bore being adapted to slidably receive a pin 23 provided with ablunt end adapted to rest against the transverse side IQ of the groove[8 in the head II. The bore 22 may merge into an enlarged bore portion24 adapted to threadedly receive a stop 25 and a spring 26 which bearsthereagainst and against a stop carried by the pin 23 so as to yieldablyurge said pin against the side [9 of the head I l.

The body member I0 adjacent the upper end of the enlarged bore 24 may beprovided with a slight boss 28 adapted to protect the head of the pin 23against accidental breakage.

It will be evident that various heads H may be inserted into the bodymember H] of the wrench by pulling the pin 23 so as to withdraw it intothe bore 22, inserting the head H and then releasing the pin 23. Thespring actuated pin bears against the side 19 of the removable head IIand causes the ratchet teeth l4 and IE; to engage. Since the ratchetteeth are arranged around the periphery of the head I! and in a planetransverse to the axis of the socket H, a large gripping area functionsat all times so that all necessary force may be exerted by the handle 20of the wrench in tightening nuts with the socket wrench. The pin 23gives somewhat when the handle is oscillated, however, so that theratchet action may be employed in actually using the wrench. It is alsoto be noted that the pin 23 bears downwardly toward the inwardly exablepin does not extend into the handle 20 and does not interfere with theangularly adjustable joint or connection between the body member l0 andthe handle-20.

The twelve-sided socket I'I illustrated may be used on square orhexagonal nuts and may also be used to receive and hold an extension barcarrying a socket wrench on its end, such arrangement permitting the useof the device in difficultly accessible positions.

Although an angularly adjustable handl has been shown," it is to beunderstood that handles integral with the body member may also beemployed. Moreover, body members [0 may be attached to or formed as apart of both ends of a handle, thereby giving rise to double-endedwrenches.

I claim:

1. In an interchangeable head, ratchet type wrench, the combination of:a body member provided with a cylindrical bore therethrough adapted toreceive a socket head; a circular lip extending inwardly at one end ofsaid bore and a plurality of ratchet teeth formed in the innertransverse face of said lip; a cylindrical socket head having anaxiallydi'sposed socket, ratchet teeth in one end of said head and aseating groove formed in the outer surface of the head,

said groove having one virtually transverse side adjacent the end of thehead and a spring actuated pin angularly disposed in the body memberadjacent said head receiving bore and adapted to extend into the grooveformed in the head and press against the side of said groove to hold asocket head'in said body member.

2. In an interchangeable head, ratchet type wrench, the combination of:a body member provided witha cylindrical bore therethrough adapted toreceive a socket head; a circular lip extending inwardly at one end ofsaid bore and a plurality of ratchet teeth formed in the innertransverse face of said lip; a cylindrical socket head having an axiallydisposed socket, ratchet teeth in one end of said head and a seatinggroove formed in the outer surface of the head, said groove having onevirtually transverse side adjacent the end of the head and a bore in thebody member angularly directed inwardly toward the inner face of saidlip, and a spring-actuated releasable pin movably held in said bore andadapted to extend into the groove formed in the head to press againstthe side of said groove to hold the head in said body member.

3. In an interchangeable head, ratchet type wrench, the combination of:a body member provided with a cylindrical bore therethrough adapted toreceive a socket head; a circular lip integral with the body member andextending inwardly at one end of said bore and a-plurality of ratchetteeth formed in the inner transverse face of said'lip; a cylindricalsocket head having an axially disposed socket, ratchet teeth in one endof said head and a seating groove formed in the outer surface of thehead, said groove having one virtually transverse side adjacent the endof the head and a bore in the body member directed angularly, downwardlyand inwardly toward the inner face of said lip, a spring actuatedreleasable pin movably held in said bore and adapted to extend into thegroove formed in the head to press against the side of said groove tohold the head in said body member, and handle means attached to saidbody member.

4. In an interchangeable head, ratchet type wrench, the combination of:a body member provided with a cylindrical bore therethrough adapted toreceive a socket head; a circular lip inte gral with the body member andextending inwardly at one end of said bore, and a plurality of ratchetteeth formed in the inner transverse face of said lip; a cylindricalsocket head having an axially disposed socket, ratchet teeth in one endof said head, and a seating groove formed in the outer surface of thehead; a bore in the body member directed angularly, downwardly andinwardly toward the inner face of said lip, and a spring-actuatedreleasable pin movably held in said bore and adapted to extend into theseating groove to hold the head in said body member, the said pin beingprovided with a head extending above the surface of the body portionadjacent the cylindrical bore whereby the pin may be manually releasedto permit removal of the socket head from the body member.

LESTER 0. WILSON.

